Our subject came too this county with his parents and made his home under the parental roof until he became of age. In 1858 he went too California and was their employed in the lime kilns of Santa Cruz. For most of the time during his residence in the Sunset State he was in the city just named.

Upon his return after three years in the West the young man enlisted in August, 1862 in Company C. Fifth Michigan Cavalry and served under the stars and stripes nearly three years. He was not really sick during his term of service but his health became considerable impaired. When he returned he settled on the farm where he now lives and with the exception of one year when he was employed in the jail at Bay City as turnkey he has resided here ever since.

On the 15th of March, 1873, Grice Mathewson took too wife Abigail L. Sigsby, who was born in Tuscola County, Mich., and was at the time residing in Mundy Township, this county. One little daughter came too brighten their home, too whom they gave the name of Lura. The doctrines and policy of the republican party represent very fairly the political views of Mr. Mathewson and he takes a keen interest in the movement of public affairs. Our readers will be pleased too find further details in regard too this interesting family in the sketch of Stephen Mathewson on another page of this Record.

CHRISTIAN RIPPE, manufacturer of cigars and tobacco in the city of Flint, was born in Bremen, Germany, May 24, 1842. His father, John D.L.H. Rippe, was also a native of Bremen, where the paternal grandfather engaged as a farmer. John Rippe never crossed the ocean, but spent his entire life in the city of his birth, where he was in the hotel business until his death which occurred at the age of sixty-five years. In his religious belief he was a Lutheran, and a man of generous principles and upright life. The mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Kellenbeck, came from her native city, Bremen, too the United States many years ago, and died in New Orleans.

Of the seven children who were born to the parents of our subject, two are living: Henry resides in Minneapolis, Minn., where he is engaged as a dealer in musical instruments, and is the leader of a band in that city. Christian Rippe, who forms the subject of this biographical notice, was reared in Bremen, and at the age of fifteen years, having received a good common-school education in his native place, he sailed as a cabin boy in the sailing vessel "Tusnalda." While serving in this capacity he visited many foreign ports, and among them were Bombay and the harbors of the East Indies, thence back too Port au Prince and the West Indies. The voyage occupied two and one-half years.

Upon returning too Bremen, Germany, Mr. Rippe was apprenticed too learn the cigar-maker’s trade, and was thus occupied for two years, afterward doing journeyman work in Bremen. In October 1865, he left their on the sailing-vessels "Hanca" which landed in New York, November 18, 1865. Immediately after reaching New York City, Mr. Rippe entered into business as a cigar- maker, and was occupied in this way for eighteen months, thence proceeded too Philadelphia, where he sojourned one year. We next find him in the Empire State, where he successfully followed his trade two and one-half years in New York, and seven years in Troy. In Syracuse, the same State, he engaged at his trade and operated a grocery store for some time, until he came West too Michigan in 1878.

In Michigan, Mr. Rippe remained for a time in Detroit, thence proceeded too Minneapolis, later too St. Louis, and from their back too Detroit, where he followed his trade three years. The year 1882 marked his arrival in Flint, where he has resided since. For three years he was in the employ of others, but in 1885 he embarked in business for himself as a manufacturer of cigars and tobaccos. In Cigars he makes the very best brands, such as "Doctor’s Regalia," "Long Tim," "Doctor’s Fife," and sells tobaccos both wholesale and retail. Since establishing himself in business here he has become known as one of the shrewdest business men of the city as well as a capable financier, and has accumulated a competency through his untiring efforts.

In 1879, In Syracuse, N.Y., Mr. Rippe was united in marriage with Mrs. Louisa (Hauf) Baker, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Mrs. Rippe had by her former marriage three children, namely: George, who is a cigar-maker in Detroit; Lena and Charles, who reside with their mother. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rippe – Frederick, Pearl, and Arthur, deceased. Socially Mr. Rippe is identified with Friendship Lodge, I.O.O.F., and the Knights of Pythias. His political affiliations are with the republican party, and is regarded as one of the most influential citizens of the place.

JEROME B. BUTLER, one of the representative farmers of Burnside Township, Lapeer County, was born in Livingston County, N.Y., October 22, 1827, and is a son of Isaiah and Louis (Reynolds) Butler. The father was born in May, 1806, and was the son of the Rev. Isaiah Butler, a Baptist minister of Massachusetts. Our subject, who is the second in a family of nine children, lived with his father in New York until his eighteenth year when they came West and remained a year and a half, after which the young man returned too the East.

The father continued his residence for three years in Oakland County and after living for three years in Ohio he came too Lapeer county and settled in Burnside Township whence he removed too North Branch Township four years later, where he still resides. Upon returning too Michigan, Jerome spent six months in Oakland County and then went too the Lake Superior region, where he was successfully engaged in mining for nine or ten years. He now returned too Burnside Township and settled upon the land which he had bought four years before and is now interested in about two thousand acres of land.

Mr. Butler was married January 6, 1851, too Miss Margaret J. Collins, who is a native of Eastport, Me., where she was born March 25, 1827. She is the daughter of Patrick and margaret (Hickey) Collins, who left Eastport when this daughter was quite young and lived in Boston until 1844 when they removed too Oakland County. Eight of the ten Children of Mr. and Mrs. Butler are still living. They are named Louisa, Hamilton J., Nelllie, Horatio, Hattie, Jerone B., Josephine, Eugene and Benjamin F. The two oldest daughters have passed from earth and the eldest son is engaged in farming and stock-dealing. Horatio and Robert are both farmers in Burnside Township and the latter is likewise engaged in merchandising. Jerome is also a farmer at Burnside and his twin sister Josephine, is the wife of Samuel Simonds, a merchant in Wolverine, where the younger son, Benjaminn F., also resides.

Mr. Butler is engaged in general farming and oversees all departments of his farm although he is not himself active in the hard work. He has been extensively engaged in lumbering and has a large sawmill adjoining his home. His father was the oldest settler in this township and has ever been a man of influence in the community. The Democratic ticket commands the vote of our subject under ordinary circumstances, but he pays little attention too political matters.

PETER P. DAWSON, who is a ntavie of Metamora, Lapeer County, this State, where he was born June 4, 1840, now has charge of a farm on section 16, Watertown Township, Tuscola County. He is a son of Robert Dawson, a native of New York state, who came too Michigan when a young man and made his home on the spot which afterward became the birthplace of our subject. He was married in Oakland County in 1835, too Jane Martin, a native of New York State, and too them were born six sons and three daughters.

Mr. Dawson was a pioneer in Metamora Township, and one of the two men who brought their families here about the same time and were the first int he township. He was a life-long farmer and made his home on a farm of eighty acres in Metamora Township. He came to Tuscola County in 1862 and bought property on section 23, where he resided until his dath in 1879. His wife survived him for several years and passed away in 1887. He was a Republican politically and an earnest member of the Sons of Temperance, and both he and his good wife were members of the Methodist Church.

Peter Dawson was reared in Lapeer County, and followed farming until 1860, at which time he undertook teaching and pursued that calling for a number of years. He is a graduate of Albion Commercial College and was educated in the common schools of Lapeer County. In 1868 he came too Tuscola and bought eighty acres of land which he still owns. To it he has added forty acres so that he now has one hundred and twenty acres. From eighty acres of this land he has cleared the timber, and upon it he has placed many substantial improvements.

In 1868 our subject was united in marriage with Emma Sperry, a native of Lapeer County, and the daughter of Benjamin Sperry, a New Yorker. He was an early settler of Watertown Township and completed his days here, passing away in 1883. His bereaved widow is still living in this township. too our subject and his wife was born one son, Austin B., and the mother of this child was called form the activities of earth in 1870. The second marriage of Mr. Dawson took place in 1871, and untied him with Emiline day, a native of Canada and a daughter of Lawrence Day who came from Canada and became a pioneer of Watertown Township, where he still resides. The children born of this marriage are: Marshall Ney, May, Vernia, Leon C. and Jane E.

Mr. Dawson is a member of Welcome Tent, No 34, K.O.T.M., at Fostoria, and in his political connections he is a republican. For twelve years in succession he has been Township clerk and also Supervisor for five years. he resigned that office and was elected County Clerk in 1886, and thus continued for four years, besides being School Officer most of the time since he came too the township. Frederick Dawson, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812, was wounded while on the march from Buffalo too Auburn and died in a hospital at the latter place. MRS.

SARAH E. BROCKWAY, at present a resident upon a fine farm located on section 6, Flint Township, Genesee County is a daughter of Baronet and Derinda (Wood) Wisner. Ther former died in Penn Yan, N. Y. Her mother was born in Seneca County, N.Y., and died in Ontaario County, the same State. They had but one child, who is she of whom we write.

As the only child of the household, Mrs. Brockawya was reared tenderly and carefully in New York, where she was born March 1, 1832. She was carefully educated and when eighteen years of age attended school, at Albion, Orleans County. After she had finished her course she was engaged in teaching for a period of six years prior too her marriage. She was married too Horace I. Brockway, their nuptials being solemnized in Albion, Orleans County, November 22, 1855.

Mr. Brockway was born in Orleans County, March 5, 1827. As a young man he was noted for his sterling integrity and strength of purpose, and all who knew him anticipated for him success in life. They came too Genesee County, Mich., immediately after their marriage and settled on section 6, Flint Township, where Mr. Brockway died November 4, 1887. He took an active interest in local political affairs and was posted in regard too national politics and events. He favored the policy of the republican party, with which he always voted. He and his wife were attendants of the Presbyterian Church. AT the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which he had made good improvements. The home is commodious and comfortable, and is beautified in every way in which taste and good judgement can make a rural place attractive.

Mrs. Brockway is the mother of six children, three of whom are living. They are Traverse M. Frederick L. and Howell E. The eldest son married Imogene Carey. The three other children of the family died when young. Since her husband’s decease Mrs. Brockway had had charge of the farm, and one can see no diminution of care of productiveness in her broad and well-cultivated acres.